The transcriptions contained within this collection encompass all of the roles that Mr Mandela filled both before and during his retirement. This is an ongoing exercise as we continually identify additional speeches made by Mr Mandela. Every speec...

Occasion - Annual conference of the African National Congress Youth LeagueSummary - This address outlines the main threats in the world (imperialism, capitalism), in Africa (colonialism), and in South Africa (fascism). African Nationalism is seen ...

Occasion - Natal Peace ConferenceSummary - Imperial powers exploit Africa for its raw materials, its strategic value as military bases and its cheap labour. Africa is used as an instrument of war and the first casualties are its people. There is a...

Occasion - Presidential address to the ANC (Transvaal) CongressSummary - The political climate has changed from the successes of the Campaign for the Defiance of Unjust Laws of 1952 and the ANC must be prepared with a new approach and with a stron...

Occasion - Address to the Conference of the Pan-African Freedom Movement of East and Central AfricaSummary - This address summaries the assistance that the international community, especially African states, has given to the freedom fighters in So...

Occasion -Statement of the Campaign's aimsSummary - This statement focuses on the support by masses of volunteers from all races for the first stages of the Defiance of Unjust Laws Campaign. It also reiterates the main aims of the Campaign: t...

Extracts from the testimony by Mandela in 1960, responding as spokesman for the accused to questions from the bench, the prosecution and the defence lawyers on the content of ANC documents and question of violent intent on the part of those on trial.

Occasion - Drum asked several non-European leaders for answers to three questions concerning the planned deomstrations. These were Mr. Mandela's answers.Summary - The demonstrations will be peaceful and will include work stoppages, meetings a...

The statement reviewed the successes and weaknesses of the three day stay-at-home in May 1961, as well as the responses to it from journalists, students, trade unions, and from opposing groups like the Pan-Africanist Congress. It also announced th...

This statement, issued after the positive response to a three day strike, announces a second phase in the fight against Verwoerd, a country-wide campaign of non-cooperation, and announces a National Convention. It also explains his decision, in ac...

In this, the opening of the Defence case, Mandela states that his experiences in South Africa and his pride as an African underlie his actions. He details how and why Umkhonto we Sizwe was formed and what its strategies were. He also responds to t...

Occasion: Mandela's call after the Soweto uprising of 1976Presentation notes:This message was Mandela's call after the Soweto uprising of 1976. It was published by the ANC on 10 June 1980, with an introduction by O R Tambo, President of ...

Occasion - UDF Rally to celebrate Archbishop Tutu award of the Nobel Peace PrizeSummary - Mandela's response to the latest offer of freedom by the South African Government. It was read on his behalf by his daughter Zindzi Mandela.

This message, from the leaders in Pollsmoor and Robben Island prisons, and signed on their behalf by Nelson Mandela, was read to the Conference and later presented to a press conference in Lusaka on 25 June 1985 by the President of the ANC, Oliver...

First public speech by Mandela in 27 years, after his release from prison. Mandela ends this address with a quote from his speech from the dock given at Rivonia trial in 1964. Note he is quoting from the prepared speech and not as he actually deli...

Occasion: First address in Durban after his release from prisonPresentation notes:Text in CAPITALS indicates where the address was delivered in Zulu. Pangas referred to in the text are machetes, widely used in Natal's sugar growing areas for ...

Occasion - Briefing to fifth session of the OAU Ad Hoc Committee on southern AfricaSummary - In a speech to the fifth session of the OAU Ad Hoc Committee on Southern Africa,Nelson Mandela dealt with the wave of violence in South Africa, and said t...

The transcript on page one of the Transcript section comes from the South African Government Information Website. The transcript on page two of the transcript section is from the ANC website. It is assumed that page one was the version actually pr...